Swiss-based ABB will move operations from its facility near Sky Harbor Airport to Latvia and Italy by the end of November.
Company spokeswoman Melissa London would not say how many employees will lose their jobs, but in a notification letter sent to the state of Arizona, ABB lists 89 positions to be eliminated including assemblers, engineers, technicians and managers.
London said ABB will keep a customer service and sales presence in Phoenix and “affected employees will receive compensation packages and career transition services.”
Employees produced solar inverters at the Phoenix facility. Solar inverters "convert energy into a usable form." London said the decision to consolidate reflects conditions in the wider macroeconomic climate.
“The consolidations will enable factory and supply chain optimization while improving cost, delivery and quality to our customers,” she said.
London added ABB is committed to the success of the U.S. solar market, currently the largest in the world, and will launch two new products and offer additional residential features next year.
According to the company’s website, the ABB Groups of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.
